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Top 10 Richest People In Asia In 2024

Published

11 months ago

July 17, 2024

Asia is home to some of the globe’s richest people, with fortunes built across a wide spectrum of industries, including technology, telecommunications, real estate, and e-commerce.

This article gives you a summary of the wealthiest people in Asia for 2024, according to Forbes India.

Mukesh Ambani (India, $113.5 billion)

Mukesh Ambani chairs and manages Reliance Industries Limited, India’s most valuable company by market value, which operates in refining, petrochemicals, retail, and telecommunications. Forbes has consistently named Ambani as India’s wealthiest individual for the last decade.

Gautam Adani (India, $85.7 billion)

Gautam Adani leads the Adani Group, a $81 billion conglomerate involved in ports, airports, energy, and green projects. Since beginning as a trading firm in 1988, he has become one of Asia’s wealthiest individuals.

Adani has demonstrated his expertise as India’s leading airport operator and manager of Gujarat’s major Mundra Port. His strategic purchase of Holcim’s Indian assets in 2022 also elevated him to the position of India’s second-largest cement producer.

Prajogo Pangestu (Indonesia, $61.8 billion)

Prajogo Pangestu, Indonesia’s wealthiest individual, made his fortune primarily in energy and petrochemicals. Starting with timber, his company, PT Barito Pacific, has expanded significantly into Indonesia’s plastics manufacturing, mining, and energy sectors.

Pangestu’s wealth surged in 2023 with the initial public offerings of his companies, Petrindo Jaya Kreasi and Barito Renewables Energy, marking their entry into the stock market.

Zhong Shanshan (China, $59.3 billion)

Zhong Shanshan, the founder of Nongfu Spring, a prominent bottled water company, is Asia’s third-richest person and the wealthiest in China. Nongfu Spring has grown to become one of China’s largest beverage companies, offering a wide array of products, including water, juice, and tea.

Colin Zheng Huang (China, $50.7 billion)

Colin Huang, the founder of PDD Holdings (formerly Pinduoduo), a major Chinese e-commerce giant, still holds a substantial ownership stake of around 28% in the company despite stepping down as chairman. He has expanded his interests into online gaming with Xinyoudi and launched another e-commerce platform, Ouku.com.

Zhang Yiming (China, $43.4 billion)

Zhang Yiming, the visionary behind the Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is most renowned for creating the immensely popular app TikTok, which boasts over 1 billion users globally. As of March 2023, he holds a two percent stake in ByteDance.

However, uncertainty looms over its value due to potential US bans on TikTok, following recent legislative actions granting the US government authority to pursue such measures. Apart from TikTok’s fame, ByteDance is involved in various sectors, including news, education, and gaming.

Savitri Jindal & family (India, $41.2 billion)

Savitri Jindal, widow of founder Om Prakash Jindal, now chairs the Jindal Group, which encompasses steel, power, cement, and infrastructure sectors. Following OP Jindal’s passing, the group’s companies were divided among their sons and now operate independently.

Her son Sajjan Jindal, based in Mumbai, oversees the group’s most significant assets. Savitri Jindal not only ranks among Asia’s wealthiest individuals but also holds the distinction of being India’s richest woman. She continues her late husband’s legacy of community support through contributions to education, healthcare, and other sectors.

Ma Huateng (China, $40.4 billion)

Ma Huateng, also known as Pony Ma, founded and chairs Tencent Holdings, a leading Chinese technology company. Beginning his career in the tech industry, Ma established Tencent in 1998. The company is renowned for its expertise in social media, e-commerce, and gaming.

Tadashi Yanai and Family (Japan, $36.8 billion)

Tadashi Yanai is the founder and chairman of Fast Retailing, a prominent clothing company headquartered in Tokyo that owns Uniqlo stores. Fast Retailing also controls other brands such as Theory, Helmut Lang, J Brand, and GU. Uniqlo, its primary brand, operates over 2,400 stores in 25 countries, solidifying Tadashi’s position among Asia’s top 10 richest individuals.

Li Ka-shing (Hong Kong, $35.4 billion)

At the age of 21 in 1950, Li Ka-Shing launched Cheung Kong Plastics with $6,500 saved and borrowed from relatives, named after a river. His philanthropic efforts through the Li Ka Shing Foundation have been substantial, donating over $3.8 billion to various causes, particularly in Greater China.

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Fire Guts Nigerian Pilgrims’ Hotel In Makkah

Published

9 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

The Imaratus Sanan Hotel on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah, which accommodates about 484 Nigerian pilgrims, was today gutted by fire while the pilgrims and others from around the world were at Mina performing their Hajj rites.

Nigerian pilgrims, like others globally, had departed Makkah for Mina — also known as Tent City — on Wednesday for the five-day Hajj observance. At the time of the fire, the pilgrims were on the second day of the stoning ritual at Jamarat.

The fire guts hotel in Makkah incident, according to a statement made available to Sunday Tribune by the Assistant Director, Information and Publication, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Fatima Sanda Usara, occurred around 12 noon Saudi Arabian time (10 a.m. Nigerian time) on Saturday, June 7, 2025.

Usara disclosed that the affected pilgrims were from six Nigerian private tour operator companies and confirmed that no lives were lost in the fire.

“The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) regrets to inform the public of a fire incident that occurred earlier today, Saturday, 7th June 2025, around 12:00 noon (KSA time), at one of the hotels accommodating Nigerian pilgrims on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah,” she said.

“The affected hotel, Imaratus Sanan, was hosting about 484 pilgrims from six Nigerian private tour operator companies. Thankfully, no lives were lost, and all pilgrims are safely in Mina. Immediate emergency response by Saudi authorities and the hotel management helped to contain the fire swiftly and prevent it from spreading throughout the building,” she added.

NAHCON Chairman/CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, led a delegation to the site of the incident to assess the extent of the damage and ensure the welfare of the pilgrims.

“Following the incident, the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, alongside Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, promptly visited the location to evaluate the situation and ensure that the welfare of the affected pilgrims is prioritized,” the statement read.

During the visit, Professor Usman expressed concern and ordered the immediate relocation of the affected pilgrims to a new hotel. He assured them that the commission would provide every possible support to cushion the impact of the incident.

“He thanked Almighty Allah that no life was lost in this unfortunate incident and promised that NAHCON would collaborate with the affected tour operators to ensure the smooth resettlement of the pilgrims,” Usara stated.

The Chairman and his team have since inspected the new accommodation, and arrangements for the pilgrims’ resettlement have been finalized.

She further noted that both Professor Usman and Commissioner Abdulrazak commended the prompt response of Saudi emergency services and the cooperation of the hotel staff in controlling the situation.

Reports reaching Sunday Tribune indicate that the fire guts hotel in Makkah caused considerable structural damage, but NAHCON has secured alternative accommodation where the pilgrims will be housed upon their return to Makkah on Sunday.

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Elon Musk Deletes Post Claiming Trump Was ‘In The Epstein Files’

Published

9 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

Elon Musk has deleted a controversial tweet in which he claimed—without offering evidence—that US President Donald Trump appeared in documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Tesla and SpaceX founder’s post, made on Thursday, alleged that Trump was named in the Epstein files. The accusation, unsubstantiated at the time, quickly ignited a political firestorm.

Responding to the claims in an interview with ABC News, Trump lashed out at the billionaire, saying Musk had “lost his mind.”

The clash marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two once-close allies.

It follows Musk’s suggestion of launching a new political faction in the United States, tentatively dubbed the “American Party.”

The idea was floated in a poll to his 220 million followers on X (formerly Twitter), where 80 per cent of respondents supported the proposal.

“This is fate,” Musk commented.

Musk’s shift comes as he fiercely criticised the president’s flagship economic proposal, which he labelled the “Big, Beautiful Bill.”

He warned the policy could explode the national debt by $2.4 trillion (£1.8 trillion), undermining his own reform work while leading the now-defunct Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Musk has even called for Trump’s impeachment, suggesting he be replaced by Vice President JD Vance—a bold move just days after stepping down from DOGE.

Trump dismissed the criticism, claiming Musk’s opposition stemmed from cuts to electric vehicle incentives included in the bill.

He added that a full review of Musk’s substantial federal contracts, including $22 billion (£16.2 billion) in agreements with SpaceX, may now be necessary.

In a symbolic jab, sources say the president is considering selling a Tesla vehicle he previously purchased.

The public feud has already had financial consequences.

Tesla shares tumbled 14.3 per cent on Thursday, wiping out approximately $150 billion (£111 billion) in market value.

The high-profile rift continues to develop amid rising tensions in US politics and speculation about third-party movements ahead of the next presidential election.

(THE STANDARD)

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US: Over 100 Dogs Rescued From Suspected ‘Puppy Mill’ In North Carolina

Published

10 hours ago

June 7, 2025

Editor

Over 100 dogs have been rescued from what appears to be a puppy mill operating out of a home in North Carolina, according to the SPCA of Wake County.

The shelter said the dogs were kept in “egregious conditions,” and many are now receiving treatment for severe health issues.

“Many of the dogs are being treated for skin and dental issues,” the SPCA reported in a social media post on Friday. They also described dogs with “matted dirty fur” coming off in “heaps.”

“This is the biggest moment in these dogs’ lives, and we are feeling so grateful to be a part of their healing,” the shelter added.

The rescue operation took place on Thursday in coordination with Raleigh Animal Control.

“They were housed in egregious conditions, surrounded by their own waste, packed 5 or 6 to a cage and stacked floor to ceiling, or free roaming in cramped quarters and filth,” the SPCA stated.

Following their removal, the dogs were given immediate care and a much-needed break from the conditions they were trapped in.

“They’ve been getting the spa day of their lives — and their first taste of fresh air, possibly ever,” the organization said.

Among the rescued animals were numerous mother dogs nursing their puppies.

Nineteen of the dogs are not currently in the shelter’s direct care, but assessments and treatment are ongoing.

To support the massive rescue and rehabilitation effort, Care First Animal Hospital has pledged to match donations up to $150,000 in veterinary services.

Photos shared by the SPCA on Facebook show the rescued dogs and puppies beginning their journey toward recovery, marking a hopeful turn after enduring horrific neglect.

(ABC News)